From left: Anne Cotter, MD; Angelica Montes, MD; Jordan Burnette, DO; Laura Dewalt, MD; Grace Loudon, MD; Kevin Robertson, MD; Pamela Vnenchak, MD, program director; Elizabeth Koffler, MD; Trish Carr Reese, MD; Cameron Moore, MD; Trina Ridout, MD; Emily Kirchner, MD; Adrian Wang, MD; Soraya Chanyasubkit, MD
For the 13 LG Health Family Medicine Residents who graduated in June, the last four months of their training took a dramatic turn with the COVID-19 pandemic. Their experience is sure to make them better doctors.
“The Class of 2020 graduated under the most unique set of circumstances in the 50-year history of our program. They adapted to the challenges of this time with enthusiasm and grace,” said Pamela Vnenchak, MD, program director of LG Health’s Family Medicine Residency.
When outpatient centers paused in-person visits, the residents conducted telemedicine visits and outreach to vulnerable patients. They learned contact tracing, staffed the COVID-19 testing tents, and engaged in remote learning to sharpen their skills when rotations were disrupted. Several took the LG Health Critical Care course in preparation for a potential inpatient surge.
“Our residents learned firsthand the value of the strong, full-spectrum education LG Health provides,” said Dr. Vnenchak. “Family physicians have been compared to ‘pluripotent’ stem cells that can rapidly adapt to the environment where they are placed. This class of residents demonstrated that ability.”